Just how strong is the U.S. economy right now? Good question. Tough answer. We picked four specific segments of the consumer economy and are taking a look inside the stocks to find some answers. Hotels. Restaurants. Theme parks. Appliances.

American companies adding outsourcing and back office operations in Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Mumbai, are resulting in a boon for high-end hotel brands seeking to build properties in India. The New York Times reports.

IKEA is going into the business of selling walls, floors and roofs, in addition to furniture, housewares and rugs. The international home-goods retail monolith recently announced plans to build an entire neighborhood in Stratford, East London.

US stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday as the dollar rose to an 11-month high against the euro with investors speculating that more euro zone countries may be downgraded in the near term, given that a quick solution to the region's debt crisis remains elusive.

Markets have been hanging on every development in Europe's sovereign debt crisis, but now traders are looking to U.S. company forecasts to see how much a weakening Europe might affect corporate profits and the U.S. economy.